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He grips my hand hard and says huskily, “And I would have helped you for nothing. Apparently, we both wanted the same thing, anyway.”
Despite the fact he just blew my world apart, he pieced it swiftly back together with his next sentence. With him beside me, I could fight wars and I am in no doubt at all this is what this is. This time, however, the blood that spills is family and there is nothing more painful than that.
CHAPTER30
ALEXEI
It’s been two weeks since Joseph Stoner died, and Serena flew home yesterday with her mom. Our contact has been limited because she is dealing with more shit than me right now and I am also preoccupied with family matters.
We learned that my father’s heart attack was unexplained. There was no reason physically why he suffered one, and yet there was nothing showing what could have caused it.
Untraceable.
That is the one word that haunts me, and I replay the moment Stoner died in my head a million times. Gleb produced the report of Stoner’s death, and it was identical findings, which tells me we have a huge problem.
I relayed the information to my brothers, and we are now investigating the probable cause that our father was murdered. But who by?
It has occupied most of my time and I’m weary of it. There are no answers, and Mikhail is on a mission to discover exactly who is responsible. He is working his way through a list of enemies as if it’s a tick list and the rest of us are doing our best to feed him information.
I am caught between two families at war and yet, rather than focus on my own shit, I am more concerned about Serena’s. She is not safe all the time her aunt lives, and I hate knowing she isn’t by my side where I can protect her.
Tonight, is a charity auction that was arranged by her brother Killian and his wife Purity. They are one of the most powerful couples in society right now and tickets to it are like gold dust. If you are not invited to any of their gatherings, you are considered a nobody and it will be interesting to see who was left off the guest list rather than the ones congratulating themselves they are there at all.
I dress in my customary black dinner jacket and white shirt. My black tie fastened impeccably, and my rare Rolex fastened securely to my wrist. I am in no doubt I am high on that guest list because the Romanovs bleed power wherever they visit. I am in demand socially and tonight was no exception. Knowing that Serena will be there made me eager to go, although she may not approve of my plus one.
“She’s here, Alexei.” Gleb puts down his phone and shakes his head.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Are you questioning my choices, Gleb?” I glare at him, and he rolls his eyes. “Yes. Of course I am. Miss Vieri may not enjoy seeing you with another woman hanging off your arm.’
“I’m counting on it, Gleb.”
He shakes his head. “I’ll never understand you, Alexei.”
“Then I am pleased to hear that, Gleb, because the moment you do, I have failed.”
He rolls his eyes once again, which makes me smile. Sparring with Gleb amuses me and I secretly love that he calls me out on my shit with no regard for my position.
We glance up as the elevator door opens and Regina heads into the room, in a black dress with a split that runs up to her thigh. She walks on the highest heels and her hair is piled high on top of her head, diamonds sparkling at her throat and her eyes shining as brightly with excitement.
“Alexei.” She nods to Gleb.
“Gleb. It’s good to see you again.”
She stares at me with interest.
“I was surprised to receive your invitation.”
“Good.” I shrug. “I’m guessing not many things in life surprise you, Regina.”
“It was a pleasant one.”
Her eyes flash with an invitation that is as clear as she is standing before me, and I turn and pour three glasses of champagne into three glasses.
“We should toast a successful mission.”
I hand one to each of them and raise my glass.
